Cameraman dies filming car stunt

A BRITISH cameraman who worked on much-loved projects including Game of Thrones, James Bond, Poldark and Downton Abbey, has died while shooting a stunt sequence for the BBC.

Mark Milsome, 54, whose credits include Bond film Quantum of Solace, The Theory of Everything, Saving Private Ryan and Sherlock, was working on upcoming drama The Forgiving Earth in Ghana when the tragedy unfolded, The Sunreports.

The BBC said it was "deeply shocked and saddened" to hear the news.

It said in a statement: "We are deeply shocked and saddened to hear this terrible news. Mark Milsome was hugely talented and a much-respected colleague. Our thoughts are with Mark's family and friends at this incredibly difficult time."

His agent Sarah Prince, of PrinceStone, said he would be "greatly missed" and that an investigation into Saturday's incident was underway.

"We have been utterly devastated by the death of our lovely Mark Milsome," she said.

"Mark was one of the nicest, kindest people; an incredibly generous soul, a greatly-talented cameramen but completely humble with it.

"A gentle gentleman, a rare, universally admired and genuinely loved member of the film industry family.

"In the current climate, with stories of the degenerate behaviour of people in this industry, Mark was the antithesis of all that - he shone out - he was all that was good about it. He will be so greatly missed by us all.

"An investigation into the circumstances is underway, we all need answers to this dreadful tragedy.

"Mark was devoted to his wife and daughter; they are broken, as are his mother and father, the cinematographer, Doug Milsome."

Milsome, from Builth in Wales, who also worked on films including Brassed Off, Little Voice, Finding Neverland and Four Weddings and a Funeral, is understood to have died during a night shoot for a car stunt scene in Ghana on Saturday.

He worked on many features and TV dramas including Etruscan Smile, Doctor Strange, Liar, The Durrells, Safe House and most recently as a director of photography on Bang.

He started out in the 1990s as a clapper loader, working his way up the camera department to focus puller, camera operator and director of photography.

The Forgiving Earth, previously called Black Earth Rising, is a crime thriller thatBBC Two plans to air in the UK in 2018, with Netflix having global rights outside of Britain.

It is about the prosecution of international war crimes and was written by Hugo Blick, who wrote and directed thriller The Honourable Woman.

This story originally appeared in The Sun and has been republished here with permission.